I was walking home from the bus stop about an hour ago and passed a man who looked at me and said “bitch-ass n*gga.” I was shocked and confused and repeated what he said in a state of said shock and confusion,” though “n*gga” is not a word in my everyday vocabulary. (Both this man and I are black.) He then started yelling, accusing me of calling him names, stating that he was saying that hateful phrase to someone else (no one else was in our close vicinity, but even so it doesn’t make it right) though I said I was repeating what he randomly said to me and not calling him names. I should’ve been the one asking why he was calling me names.

He then gets close to me, starts yelling and calling me a “stank-ass bitch,” “ugly bitch,” and other hateful things with the word “bitch” in it while spit was flying out of his mouth.

I put my hands up in the stop position like I’ve learned in self-defense class and told him to back away from me or I’d call the police. He started to walk away but still acted like he wanted to come back and physically threaten me, so I walked away, yelling “It’s not worth it…IT’S NOT WORTH IT!”

It was not worth my time and energy to get into it with someone who was senselessly lashing out at me for no reason. As I continued up the street, a man and woman (both also black) said they heard what was going on and that the man had gotten into it with them too. The man of the duo said, “He yelled at me too…and I’m in a wheelchair!” I told the two that it was not worth it for me to continuing arguing with that guy so I chose to walk away. I apologized that they had to deal with that man too and I wished them a good day. Had it not been for the interaction with the pair at the bus stop afterward, I probably would’ve continued home stewing in anger.

While it was disappointing that we commiserated at being recipients of this man’s misdirected anger, it was good to know that I wasn’t alone and that what had happened was not my fault.

Submitted 5/13/17 by “Anonymous”

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.

If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).

Around 7:15am on Tuesday, December 15, a man on the red line Metro bound for Silver Spring was sitting across the aisle from me. When I looked over, he was holding a newspaper over his lap, but had his penis exposed and was stroking it. He briefly looked me in the eye and continued stroking his penis. I turned away and moved to another seat, where I took a picture of his face to report to the Metro Transit Police. He had a tight black cap and sunglasses on the top of his head. He was wearing Adidas track pants, a black long sleeved shirt, and a light beige winter vest.

Submitted 12/15/15 by “JM”

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.

If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).

A few minutes after I sat down on the Metro at Silver Spring, someone started saying, “Hey.. Beautiful girl… Hey how you doing Mami?” at me repeatedly for about 5 minutes. I ignored them until finally one of guys said, “Hey, pretty, how you doing over there?” I looked at him, and said, “I’d be fine if you left me alone.” Then I got up and moved to the next car at the next train stop (Totten).

Submitted 7/17/15 by “KM”

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.

If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).

I was heading to my yoga class this evening (12/23/14) and I walked past a group of guys. I heard one of them hock a loogie and spit near me. I said, “Ew!” loudly. This guy started cursing and saying, “Fuck you, bitch! I didn’t spit at you!” I continued walking and said, “It sounded like you did!” He continued cursing, ranting, and raving while I continued walking. I was not going to stand and argue with someone who’d react that aggressively over what I felt was a normal reaction to someone doing something gross near me. Getting to my yoga class was more important. I’ve been learning to be less reactive to these jerks on the street and find that I encounter less street harassment, but once in a blue moon something like this happens.

Submitted 12/23/14 by “D.”

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.

If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).

I was walking to an appointment and passing by two men sitting on a bench. I nodded to them and made eye contact like I usually do. As I walked past, one of them said, “Hey, how you doing, sexy?” I didn’t respond as I was startled – I hardly ever get street harassed (I think because I’m so tall) so I wasn’t mentally prepared. The man continued speaking louder and louder – I don’t know exactly what he said next, but it was something about their balls and being out all day in the hot sun. I continued walking and decided not to respond. He ended by yelling down the street, “Bitch, I could make you happy!”

I was still shook up over an hour later when I came out from my appointment, but luckily they were gone. Having those things said to you – especially when you’re alone on the street and it’s two against one – is like having poison poured into you. I still felt sick hours later. And no — no one who calls me “bitch” will ever make me happy.

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.

If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).